Lorena didn’t respond–just gave a soft, mysterious smile.
Meanwhile, Sadie was lying on her desk, eyes closed, trying to rest. She blocked out the chatter like it didn’t exist.
After school-
Lorena turned to Sadie with a casual, smug smile. “I’ve got training again tonight.”
Sadie didn’t react. She packed her books, slung her bag over her shoulder, and walked out without a word.
Lorena watched her go, feeling more pleased than ever.
She turned to one of her admirers. “You’ll help with today’s homework, right? Just make sure it doesn’t look too obvious.”
“Of course! Go chase your dream–we’ve got your back.”
“Thanks,” she said sweetly. “I won’t forget it.”
Lorena practically skipped away. This time, she was going to completely push Sadie out of the picture. She was the one who deserved to be the center of the Douglas family’s world.
*****
Meanwhile, Sadie walked straight to the nurse’s office with her backpack slung over one shoulder.
Sean was lounging in his chair, his usual laid–back look tinged with amusement. “What now?”
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She cleared her throat. “Came to do homework. Figured this place is quieter than the library.”
She walked in like she belonged there, casually setting down her bag.
Sean raised a brow. He hadn’t expected her to actually come back.
He thought she was the timid type–clearly, he’d misjudged her.
Still, it didn’t stop him from grumbling when she asked for help.
“Is your brain full of holes? Everything I explain just leaks right out.”
“And don’t bring me baby–level questions. At least try to think for yourself.”
Sadie didn’t argue. She just sat quietly, taking notes and writing everything down.
The room was silent–until her stomach let out a loud growl.
Her face turned red. She’d only eaten a piece of bread earlier, and it clearly wasn’t enough.
Sean glanced at the time and, without a word, ordered takeout. “Eat something first.”
She sat across from him. As he placed the food on the desk, she noticed a faint scar on his wrist.
Without thinking, she asked, “Was that from a car accident? Was it bad?”
Sean opened the container and handed her a pair of fork, his gaze distant. “That was a long time ago.”
“Same here,” Sadie said quietly. “My parents died in one. After that, it
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was just me and my brothers.”
Her voice was calm, but her eyes flickered with something darker.
Back then, she’d clung to her brothers like a lifeline. They were all she had.
But everything changed the moment Lorena entered the picture.
Sean’s hand tightened slightly around his fork. “So… what are you planning to do now?”
“I’m planning to apply to Wonder University,” Sadie said. “I want to leave this city and start over somewhere new.”
Sean raised an eyebrow. “Bold of you. But with your grades right now? Getting into Wonder University is a long shot.”
“I still have time. I’m willing to put in the work.”
He looked her over, then lowered his gaze. His voice was cool and dismissive. “Then stop asking me such easy questions.”
Sadie smiled slightly. ‘So… that means I can keep asking, right?‘
For the next few days, Sadie spent every afternoon holed up in the school infirmary, only leaving once she finished all her homework.
Meanwhile, Lorena had started slacking off in class–spacing out, even napping during lectures. But since she was a favorite with the teachers, all she had to do was say she wasn’t feeling well and they let it slide.
On social media, she kept showing off photos from her training camp and videos of her playing alongside Sadie’s brothers. Their in–game usernames all followed a matching format–just like in Sadie’s previous life.
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Only this time, she wasn’t part of it.
“You’re not even doing your homework, and you’re already thinking about gaming?”
Sean had walked over and caught a glimpse of her phone screen.
